Kentucky enters the tournament as the clear favorites to cut down the
nets in New Orleans. However, they may face some interesting tests in the first
two rounds. Playing in enemy territory in Louisville, there could be plenty of
Cardinal fans on hand to jeer them, especially if they face Western Kentucky
in the first round. After they climb over the Hilltoppers, they then will face
defending champion UConn. The Huskies were not expected to win it all last year,
but they did and despite not being nearly as good this season the muscle memory
of last year could give the Wildcats a scare. However., Kentucky did not got
32-2 for nothing and they will get to Atlanta by knocking out the champs.

Another
team looking for deja vu is last year's Cinderella Virginia Commonwealth,
look for Shaka Smart to shock the Wichita State Shockers, but midnight
will come early this time around as Indiana will go make it to the Georgia Dome
after beating New Mexico State and VCU.

Colorado stunned the Pac
12 and earned a bid by winning the conference tournament, I see them taking the
momentum one step forward as they beat UNLV. However, with their glow in the dark
uniforms I see Baylor reaching the sweet 16, as they glow in Albuquerque like
an unknown test subject during the Manhattan Project.

Much like Kansas,
Duke has overachieved this year. Next year could be a big year for the Blue
Devils, but before that they will take a fall in this year's tournament, and
that fall will come at the hands of Notre Dame who will slip by Xavier and will
be doing a jig on the way to Atlanta.Regionals @ Atlanta, GA
Kentucky, Baylor, Indiana, Notre Dame

Prior to their loss in the SEC Championship, Kentucky's only
loss this year came against Indiana. In the Sweet 16 Round, the Hoosiers will
be laying in the weeds again, as the Wildcats face another test on the way to
New Orleans. The first game was in Bloomington, with Christian Watford hitting
the game winning three at the buzzer for Indiana. This time around look for Kentucky
to get a big lead and not allow any chance the Hoosiers can do it again.

In
Atlanta, look for Baylor to continue to shine as they out Green the
Irish. The Baylor Bears have plenty of talent and can be a good team for years
to come, highlighting the entire athletic departments rise to power.

In
the end, Kentucky is too good to not at least reach the Final Four; Baylor
could give them a test. However, the Wildcats have too much talent in too many
different positions, as Coach John Calipari's one year and out philosophy while
ultimately being bad for college basketball is working and will get the Wildcats
back into the Final Four.

Midwest Regional
Overview
This is the regional that could get crazy or it could go chalk as no team is
really impressive, while #1 seed North Carolina is the overwhelming favorite
to reach the Superdome. The Tar Heels should be able to do the hustle to the regionals
in St. Louis as they face a play in and Alabama who should slip by Creighton.

As for the other play in winner in this region, look for California
to stun Temple, who was exposed the Atlantic 10 Tournament, while Michigan
who despite their ugly loss in the Big Ten semifinals is the best team by far
in this pod and will be team that gets to see the Gateway Arch.

NC
State is the great example of a team getting hot at the right time, as their
strong showing in the ACC Tournament earned them a trip to the NCAA Tournament;
look for them to continue to make noise as they upset San Diego State and Georgetown
to make it to the Sweet 16.

Kansas was disappointed with their
#2 seed, but their loss to Baylor in the Big XII Semifinals cost them a #1,
and no matter what seed they are the Jayhawks clearly overachieved this year as
they were expected to be in a rebuilding mode at the start of the season. This
is why they are ripe for the pickens in second round. Look for Purdue to get by
St. Mary's and Kansas on the way to St. Louis.

Regionals @ St. Louis, MO
North Carolina, Michigan, Purdue, NC State

Michigan lives and dies by the three point shot, in the Edward
Jones Dome it could be very difficult as the depth perception it different than
a regular arena. Add to the fact the Tar Heels are good at stopping second chance
points and you will see why this match up will be Carolina Blue.

Meanwhile
it will be a day for Tobacco road in the Lou, as NC State upends Purdue
led C.J. Leslie to set up a match up with rival North Carolina with a trip
to New Orleans on the line.

In the ACC Tournament semifinals, NC
State had a chance to beat Carolina, before C.J. Leslie fouled out with eight minutes
left. This time around it may not that close, especially if the Tar Heels
have a healthy John Henson. Injuries perhaps short circuited UNC this year as
they were the preseason number one. In a better region perhaps they would not
get to the Final Four, the problem is there is no team that matches up with them
in the Midwest.

East Regional
Overview
The last time the Final Four was in New Orleans, it was the Syracuse Orange
who cut down the nets, winning Jim Boeheim his first National Championship. This
Syracuse is a good bet to do it again, as they enter the tournament as the second
overall seed after a terrific 31-2 season. They could run into a scare if
Kansas State brings their A game after beating Southern Miss, but in the end the
Orange should waltz to Boston.

Vanderbilt is coming off a stunning
upset of Kentucky, is a good pick to be bitten by the upset bug themselves as
they face Harvard, look for Linsanity to catch the Crimson as they slip by Vandy.
Meanwhile, Montana will flip Wisconsin, who will once again lay their traditional
first round egg, after that look for the Grizzlies to wear the glass slipper
on the way to the Sweet 16.

Another upset in the East, will see
Texas knock off Cincinnati, who despite their strong showing in the Big East
Tournament is not a strong title contender, while Texas has the talent to go far
if they get hot. The Longhorns however, won't get that far as the Florida State
Seminoles who beat Duke and Carolina twice and won their first ACC Tournament
is a good bet to reach the Sweet 16.

Last year's number one overall
Ohio State, is a number two seed this year, but with their size, they can run
the table at any time and they should have no problem reaching Bean Town, as Loyola
Maryland and Gonzaga don't match up very well with the Buckeyes.

Regionals @ Boston, MA
Syracuse, Ohio State, Florida State, Montana

Just getting to the Sweet 16 will be a great story
for Montana, but midnight will strike when they face Syracuse, as the Orange
balance will be too much for them to overcome.

Last year the Buckeyes,
were the favorites going into the tournament with Jared Sullinger as the
monster on the post, look for them to get to the Elite Eight this time around by
beating Florida State, who does not have the offensive firepower to match Ohio
State.

In the Elite Eight it will be a match of two powerhouses as
Syracuse tangles with Ohio State. This could easily be one of the best games in
the tournament as the two teams are evenly matched. However, in the end I like
Fab Melo to be the difference as the Orange head to the Bayou.

West Regional
Overview

One of these years a #16 seed will beat a #1 seed. This could be a year
to watch, as Long Island is capable of running up and down the court and turning
the game into a track meet. However, there is a reason Michigan State is a
number one seed and it's not just because they had a good season. Tom Izzo is
one of the best coaches in the country and they will be able to avoid the upset.
After that they should make it to Phoenix with a win over Memphis.

Louisville
is another team that could be getting hot at the right time; look
for them to continue the momentum of winning the Big East Tournament, by getting
to the Sweet 16 with wins over Davidson and New Mexico.

Murray State
is the team nobody wants to respect, even as they were the last team to lose
a game they were not anywhere near the top five, while some even suggested they
still needed to win their conference tournament to get into the Big Dance. There
is a reason they went 30-1 and they will show it as they should get some good
home support in Louisville as they beat Colorado State and Marquette to reach
Phoenix.

You can flip a coin in the Florida-Virginia game, but it
won't matter who wins and I do believe it will be the Gators, as neither team has
a chance against Missouri, who is another team hitting their stride at the right
time and they are not just talented they are deep on the bench.

The Spartans have made several surprise trips to the Final
Four, and with the number one seed, they are a good bet to go to New Orleans.
However, look for Louisville who has one of the best defenses in the country to
knock them off in the Regional Semifinals.

As for the other Blue
Grass state team in the region, Murray State simply does not have the weapons to
match Missouri whose can get a big game from any number of players.

In
Championship Week, both Missouri and Louisville had big weeks and both are
capable of having a big March. However, I just look at the several players who
can score inside and outside and its for this reason the Tigers will be heading
to the Superdome.

Missouri has a lot of talent and a lot of big time players,
but they don't have Super Freshman Anthony Davis who has been the big man for the
Wildcats all season. Davis can do it all, block score and rebound. The Wildcats
are also just as deep as the Tigers and have several players that can easily
have a big game. Look for them to continue to show why they are top seed as they
leave March and make it to the title game.

Syracuse versus North
Carolina, a match up filled with history a match up that will be entertaining
to watch. What should help the Orange is their balance, and while North Carolina
is quite capable of winning the game, Syracuse has played better all season against
top ranked teams, and for that reason they will reach the finals.

Syracuse
and Kentucky one and two, these have been the best two teams all
season, and they will be the last two teams standing. The last time the NCAA Tournament
was in the Superdome it was Carmelo Anthony who guided the Orange to their
first National Championship. This time its Melo Orange again, as in Fab Melo,
whose presence in the middle will be the difference as they edge Kentucky in
what should be an entertaining final. One stat that holds in the favor of both
final teams, they both play well against other top ranked teams. However, Syracuse
is a tad bit better holding a 5-0 record against the Top 25 entering the
tourney.

First FourOverview
In the second year of the 68 team tournament and the "First Four," the big
question is whether someone can repeat what Virginia Commonwealth did last season
when they reached the Final Four. Obviously it is a near impossible task for
the winners who get to play top seeds. Truly the bottom four teams as seen by
the selection committee. One possible interesting match up that could arise is
Western Kentucky facing number one overall Kentucky, and with a win over Mississippi
Valley State that will happen. Meanwhile look for Vermont to get by Pat Knight
in the other #16 seed play in. Meanwhile the best chance to repeat the run
of VCU is the winner of the game between California and South Florida game. Cal
was the Pac-12 favorite before the season and was the conferences lone at large
team. I see the Golden Bears slipping by the Bulls in this one, while BYU should
handle Iona. The Gales are the least worthy team in the tournament, though
with a tough schedule it's not hard to understand why they got a bid over Drexel.